Your front door is the first thing anyone sees and the hardest-worked bit of paint on the house. It deserves doing properly.
A front door works harder than any other painted surface on a house — sun, rain, slammed shut a dozen times a day and touched by everyone who visits. It is also the first impression of the whole place, so it is worth the extra care.
Prepare for the punishment
- Ideally take the door off or wedge it open so you can reach the edges and it can dry undisturbed.
- Sand back the old finish, fill any splits and dents, and spot-prime bare wood and knots.
- Clean off all dust and grime — a door collects both.
Use an exterior finish
This is not the place for leftover interior trim paint. An exterior wood system is built to flex with the timber and cope with weather. Choose your sheen for the look you want, but make sure it is rated for outdoor use.
Paint in the right order
On a panelled door, do the mouldings and panels first, then the horizontal rails, then the vertical stiles, keeping a wet edge so the joins blend. Thin coats laid off cleanly beat one thick coat. And pick a dry, mild day with time for it to dry before evening damp sets in.
Come in for the exterior system, primer and brushes to do your door justice — and a colour matched to whatever you have in mind.
